CHENNAI: The less expensive education in India with quality has attracted more American students to Indian universities, a U.S. official said. "I think that's one of the attractions. Certainly, it's no secret that the cost of education in the United States is increasing and it's pretty high. Part of it is the increasing awareness of the value and quality of education in India," Anand Krishna, Information Officer with the US Consulate General here told reporters. According to a data released by United States India Educational Foundation ( USIEF), there has been a 44.4 per cent increase in the number of American students studying in Indian universities. "IIMs and IITs certainly attract American students...Their interest may also ultimately be in journalism and locally they may look at Asian College of Journalism. But the fact that they are looking at schools in India now is important," he said. Last year it was 2,690 students while this year it is 3,884, he said.